Things to do this Weekend 10 – 12 March 2017

Every so often comes around a weekend so epic, so chock to the rafters with awesome South Asian-type things to do, that only a round-up will do. So, if you’re at a loose end, or looking for some social/ cultural inspiration, then, holi-smokes are you in the right place. Here are all the festive parties (and more) you need to know about.

FRIDAY 10 MARCH

Kiranpal Singh and Saphwat Simab on santoor and rubab

The lovely, lovely sounds of the santoor and the rubab by two of the UK’s leading exponents Kiranpal Singh and Saphwat Simab. Our top tip for kicking off the weekend. Part of Sama Arts‘ StringFest 2017.

6.30pm. Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF. FREE (but you need to book). More information is here.

The Journey

Presented by Queer Asia and the SOAS Tamil Society, The Journey is a 2004 Malayalam feature film based on the true story of two lesbian lovers in Kerala.

A celebration of the enduring beauty and appeal of Urdu poetry, as expressed in ghazals and songs from popular Indian cinema, and performed and appreciated within a traditional mushaira setting. Organised as part of the London Asian Film Festival, the evening features an impressive list of well-known modern-day poets.

The latest play from the Tamasha Theatre Company is centred around a clinic in Gujarat and examines the politics, economics and complex questions surrounding international surrogacy. It’s already toured Edinburgh, Manchester, Coventry and got some pretty decent reviews. Here‘s what the Guardian had to say.

The prelude to this student-run conference was the now infamous conversation with Karan Johar (which we wrote about here). The main event – titled India – A Superpower in the Making? features talks and discussions on India’s politics, economics and society. Our main interest (for the art, the ART!) is a session with actor, director and producer Farhan Akhtar in conversation with film writer Naman Ramachandran.

The lovely ladies at London Chai Party are putting on a vegetarian Holi feast. Expect delicate delectables to celebrate the arrival of Spring. The Thandai cocktail has vodka, and the Mehfil ki Rani features gulab jamuns.

The.Right.Idea.

12.30pm. A secret location in Farringdon. £37. More information is here.

Daughters of the Curry Revolution

Artist and theatre producer Afreena Islam tells the stories of her immigrant father, of his journey to the UK, his life once here, and her life growing up in the restaurant he ran. She has called the performance “something of a love letter, maybe?” to her dad.

This Holi party promises to be all about Bollywood music – it’s what Deepak Yadav does best! He’s promising the best Bollywood DJs, live music, dhol players, and those two magic words – jhatkas and matkas.

6.30pm-4am. Great Suffolk StreetWarehouse, Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0NS. £30. More information is here.

SUNDAY 12 MARCH 2017

Play Holi with Dishoom

Dishoom’s Holi party has become a favourite fixture on the holi in London scene. There are two back-to-back parties – one for families, the other not. There will be endless gulaal, mithai, chai, and music of both the DJ’d and live variety. We’ve dedicated a whole post to the Dishoom shebang – so find out more there!

Visaaranai is an award-winning Tamil film written by a former a rickshaw driver about the time he and his friends – migrants workers from a neighbouring state – were held and tortured by police in Andhra Pradesh in order to make them confess to a crime they didn’t commit. The film was in the running for India’s Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film, and has had rave reviews from India’s press and film fraternity. Probably one of the highlights of the London Asian Film Festival of which it’s a part (see our round-up for that here). The trailer is below – warning: violence.

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Funoon London celebrates the South Asian cultural scene in London. We discover and tell you about the best of the banquet of multicultural arts, events and, indeed, food always on offer from South Asia. Let's keep talking about London as one of the most exhilarating cultural collisions of our time.Read More...